Head Start centers play a vital role in the early childhood education throughout rural counties in Mississippi. But just how vital is that role? To answer that question, consider these statistics from a report by The Center for American Progress:

In Mississippi, Head Start makes up 24 percent of the center-based programs in rural counties

55 percent of Head Start child care centers in Mississippi are located in rural areas

Through Head Start, families are provided critical child care services, access to health care, and early intervention services that children may not otherwise get. According to Nita Norphlet-Thompson, executive director for the Mississippi Head Start Association, these services are provided to ensure nothing stands in the way of learning. It's needless to say many of the rural counties in the state would have few center-based child care options without Head Start.

At the close of each year, 91 percent of the state's rural Head Start children are up to date on preventive and primary health care, 95 percent are up to date on immunizations, and 93 percent have received continuous dental care. These programs also provide parents with short and long-term goals and invaluable resources like job training, substance abuse prevention and parenting education.

“Head Start is really the difference … in a family being able to actualize their hopes and dreams or to just be a victim of the cyclical poverty that just seems to plague so many families in our country and in Mississippi in particular,” Norphlet-Thompson told The Hechinger Report.

Though it is crucial to the underserved members of rural areas in the country, some studies have shown that Head Start is not always academically effective.

However, a 2016 study found Head Start to be especially beneficial among African-American children. The same study showed the program also had a positive impact on social, emotional and behavioral development and also increases positive parenting practices for the families of all students, regardless of race.